Hazard: Moderate
A rocky-topped fell on the northern Helvellyn ridge, above the high crossing of Sticks Pass. In summer it's a straightforward ridge walk, but it holds snow longer than almost anywhere in the Lakes — long the home of the Lake District Ski Club — so its real hazards are winter ones: steep, hard snow slopes, an exposed high ridge, and volatile mountain weather. Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team covers this ground.
- Winter snow and ice: Raise catches and keeps snow, and its slopes can be hard enough that step-kicking alone won't get you up or down safely. When there's snow or ice you need an ice axe, crampons and the skills to use them; the steep flanks toward Keppel Cove and Sticks Gill are unforgiving of a slip.
- Exposed high ridge & Sticks Pass: This is high, open ground with little shelter, and Sticks Pass is the highest regularly-used pass in the Lakes — fully exposed to wind and fast-changing weather. Conditions can turn quickly; dress and plan for far worse than the valley.
- Ridge navigation in cloud: The broad ridge and the pass junction are easy to misjudge in mist. Take a compass bearing before moving between Raise, White Side and Sticks Pass, and keep clear of the steeper eastern flanks.
Who should attempt this fell: In summer Raise is an easy, enjoyable ridge top; the danger is winter, when it holds hard snow and demands full winter kit and competence — treat the steep flanks and the descent to Sticks Pass with real respect. Carry map and compass for the exposed, featureless ridge, and be ready for the weather to change fast up here.
Most common causes: Slips on steep, hard snow and ice in winter without proper kit · Being caught out by rapidly changing weather on the exposed ridge · Navigation errors on the broad ridge and at Sticks Pass in cloud · Underestimating how long the fell holds winter conditions
Local Mountain Rescue: Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team (opens in new tab) · Reviewed 14 Jun 2026
Safety: Hazard guidance compiled from published Mountain Rescue reports and well-documented accident history - editorial background, not a live feed of callouts. Always check current conditions, carry proper navigation equipment, and seek qualified instruction before heading onto the fells. In an emergency, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.
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